Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-11
MEM0RIAL-DAY.
HOW OBSERVED AT VARIOUS POINTS IN
NORTH CARoLIHA.
The dwelling Of the Confederate honu-
ment at smith1eld-T Ceremonies
Distinguished Guests.
Ispcci.l telegram 10 tho pispatch.l

rious observances of this honored ami
versary none was more important than
| that at Smithfeld, where a monument
wns unveiled and its cornerstone also
| laid in honor of the COnfederates who
| fell in the last real battle of the war
Bentonville. For this reason, and on
occount of the fact that General Joseph
f. Johnston, the commander of the
Confederate forces in that battle, had
accepted an invitation to be present,
the occasion gathered its interest. 1t
ia not yet two months since the twenty
second anniversary of the battle, which
was fought on the 10Th of March, 1860;
though really it lasted three days. The
monument is not, as many suppose, on
| the battlefield, but at Smithfield, the
pleasant little county-seat of Johnston
county, eighteen miles northwest of
Bentonville, in the plat in the Gene
ttry devoted TO the Confederate dead.
In this are buried the soldiers who
were wounded at Bontonyille and
brought to the hospitals at Smithtield,
and who died in the latter, as well as
some of those who were killed in the
battle. A very large number are buried
on and near the battle-ground. Their
graves are now undistinguishable from
the remainder of the dense pine and
scrub thickets where they lie. All of
tie Federal dead that could be found
were removed from the battle field soon
after the war ana rointerred at Raleigh.
The battle was fought in n dense pine
thicket, in an angle formed by Neuse
creek and Neuse river. Last year the
woods caught fire and several shells,
Which had lodged in trees, exploded,
| TO the astonishment and terror OF peo-
| pie living in that section. The Con
| Tolerate dead in the Smithfeld Gene
terry have for years been cared for and
their graves kept green. A little over
a year ago the idea originated of erect
| ing monument TO the memory OF
| these as well as those who lie in the
| tangled wilderness at Bentonville. The
result is seen to-day in a tasteful
though plain shaft of pure white mar
bic, sixteen feet high, erected by funds
contributed in the main by the people
of Johnston county.
A BRIEP SKETCH OF THE BATTLE.
The battle of Bentonvllle began on
the morning of March 10, 1865. The
ground was chosen by General Wade
Hampton. General Johnston marched
there, General Robert L. Hoke's diyi-
sion leading his army. Hoke's troops
held the centre, with his two batteries
(all the Confederate artillery, under
command Of Colonel J. b. Starr, on
his right. The troops OF the Army of
the Tennessee we're on the right of the
artillery. General Johnston reported
his force to be 14, 100 strong. The left
column of the Federal army advanced
upon the Confederates and attacked
Hoke with great fury. General Bragg,
fearing that Hoke would be OverpOwer-
ed, applied for reinforcements, and Me-
Laws division struggled through the
thickets in support, but on arrival
saw that Hoke had entirely repulsed the
enemy. An attack was next made by
the Federals upon the right, mainly
against General Stewards own corps,
commanded by General Loring, and
Clayton's division, and these repealed it
as thoroughly as General HOke's men
had done. Northumberland Hardee
then charged with the right wing, Gen
eral Bragg joining in the movement
The result was the driving OF the Fed
erals out of their first line. They then
formed in double line. Lieutenant
General Hardee led another charge,
and leaped his horse over the breast
works with great gallantry. The Fede
rails were routed and pursued into thick
pine timber, where they rallied, but
were again driven back. The battle
was Confederate victory. Johnston
held the ground until all his wounded
had leen removed. He says in his
Narrative that by this battle an impor-
tant object was gained-the restoration
OF the confidence of his troops, all Of
whom were greatly elated at the event
so MORE DESPERATE FIGHT.
The Federal forces were in command
Of General Sherman. General So
Gums division bore the brunt Of the
battle. The Fcderals were over $1,000
in number. The battle was very
bloody, and both commanders state
that the losses were heavier in proper
ton to the numbers engaged than in
any previous battle of the war The
reason was that all the men were vete-
rams. and they aimed low. No bullet
marks could be found on the trees Just
after the battle at a height of over ten
feet. JohnstOn's losses were 223 kill
ed, 1,467 wounded, and 653 missing
OF the Federals 903 were captured and
over 4, 600 were killed or wounded. The
Confederates after the battle continued
their march toward Raleigh, suffering
daily Losses and harassed in a thousand
ways by a foe so greatly superior in
numbers. 1t was intended TO make a
stand at Raleigh, but this idea was
abandoned. Sherman pressed on, and
III few days entered GOldsboro.
SOUTHERN vALoR, FIRST AND LAST.
So there is no reason for anything
save pride in this dying struggle of the
Confederacy. The same soldiers who
fought 80 gloriously in the first days of
the war did even nobler duty at its
close.
TIE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
The invitation to General Joe John
ston to be present and deliver the adj
dress was accepted, SO far as to being
present was concerned, but the old war
rior declared that he had not the time
to prepare q worthy address. So Colo
mel Alfred Moore Wsddell was chosen
as the orator, and certainly no better
selection could have been made. Gene
raj Hoke was invited, with Major Starr,
the commander of artillery at the bat
tie. Invitations were also sent the
Governor, Lieutenant-G Governor, and
other State officers. A special commu-
nication of the Grand Lodge of Masons
was ordered by Grand-Master Robin
son, it being concluded to lay the cor
ner-stone of the monument as well as
unveil it to-day.
THE DAYS CEREMONIES.
The assemblage of people at Smith
field was very large, and began TO
gather yesterday. The memorial cere-
monies at Goldsboro' were postponed
until tomorrow, and the Goldsboro'
Rifles and many Goldsboro' people par
ticipated in the observances at Smith
field. Many Odd-Fellows as well as
Masons were in the procession. The
n